The annual festival of second born birthdom ...

It was Master 13's birthday this last weekend.

I say weekend, because in order to drain every last little bit of birthday out of it he decreed that the celebrating should begin on Friday … and continue for as long as was physically and mentally possible.

Now I shall warn you in advance … because I'm thoughtful like that … that this post contains more photos of my children than you or anyone else on the planet would care to peruse.

Anyhoo ... it's safe to say that Master 13 was pretty excited about the impending festival of birthday celebrations … it was all that could be talked about in the week prior.

So in all my "Mother of the Year" glory I set about making it a birthday to remember.

On Friday night we went out for a small celebration.

Where we ate a lot of food … and enjoyed riveting celebratory conversations … OI … GET OFF YOUR PHONES BOYS!!

I recorded the event with Master 13's pre birthday portrait.

Enjoying his final moments of 13 … before venturing forth into the great unknown of 14.

His actual birthday dawned bright and sunny … and we all enjoyed (?!?) a McDonald's breakfast … as per his request …  after all I aim to please.

He was swamped with an obscene number of gifts … of all shapes and sizes … way more than any one person requires … but hey I wanted him to have a wonderful birthday.

Of course I took care of the logistical details of turning from 13 to 14.

He got to try out his new things.

He received phone calls from family members.

He got photo bombed by Buster.

I baked him a cake … chocolate … covered in chocolate … just like he requested.

I made sure there were 14 candles … and that he managed to blow them all out … so that all his wishes could and would come true.

I let him cut his own slice of cake … as big as he liked … even though the careless, uneven way he did  it made my eyelid twitch … but I never once complained.

I took a birthday portrait of him in his new t-shirt … because it was "his" day … and that means he's a really big deal.

Then we drove him all the way to Sydney … and took him to a Sydney Swans AFL match … because he LOVES Aussie Rules Football.

It was a pretty close game and edge of your seat exciting.

And then the day was over … the celebrations had all been celebrated.

"So,  Master Fourteen … How was your birthday? … Did you have the best day ever??"

"No … it was the worst birthday of all time.  The Swans lost … and I didn't win at PlayStation!"

I … GIVE … UP!!

On Sunday it was decreed … by ME … that the birthday was well and truly over!!!

A picture's worth 1000 words … week 13 ...

A photo a day … every day … in 2014.

Day 82:  "Gimme the treat … please gimme the treat … I want the treat … please gimme the treat" … begging at it's finest.

Day 83:  Jogging today … synchronised swimming tomorrow!??!

Day 84:  Big brown moth.

Day 85:  Pom pom perfection.

Day 86:  Fairy lights reflecting on the wet gutter … another example of beauty in the most unexpected places.

Day 87:  Master 13 drawing … of his own free will.

Day 88:  Birthday candles … it can only mean one thing … cake.

Positively potty for pom poms ...

So I've decided it's time to come clean.

I've been living most of my life with a secret … and rather odd ... fetish.

I'm thoroughly enamoured with pom poms.

I'm rather fond of polka dots too … but pom poms were my first love.

Perhaps it stems from my early years when my hair was regularly enhanced with bobbles … which are … in effect ... hard plastic pom poms.

Perhaps it's because even the most ridiculous hat looks better with pom poms.

Whatever the reason … whatever the cause … I decided it was time to feed the fetish … and knock up a few of my own.

Now since I am clearly becoming a Crafty Blogger as we speak … I decided to write a quick post and reveal my little creation.

I started with these.

In my favourite colours of course.

And I wrapped some of it around this handy little gadget …

Like so …

And then I cut around the edge … like so …

And this is why I'm not allowed to handle anything hot or sharp.

Then you rinse and repeat.

No, no, no … you just repeat … over and over until your pom pom fetish has been temporarily satiated.

Then of course you can do whatever you like with your pom poms … who am I to judge … but I strung mine up and made a little garland.

Like so …

Of course it provides absolutely no practical purpose whatsoever … but it is kinda pretty ... don't you think?

A picture's worth 1000 words … week 12 ...

A photo a day … every day … in 2014.

Day 75:  I think that's what you call a menacing storm cloud.

Day 76:  Number Two Son.

Day 77:  Number Two Son admires his looong shadow.

Day 78:  Why is it that no matter how spectacular the moon looks … as soon as you take it's photo … it turns into a big white blob?

Day 79:  Lava Lamp … GROOVY!

Day 80:  Can I iron this basket of laundry?  Of course I can!  *sob*

Day 81:  In the garden.


Joining in over at The Beetle Shack.

STOP PRESS ...

Stop the presses and hold the phone.

SPUNKY HUNK ALERT!!!

I have credible information … from my sources on the ground … that there is a very scrumdiddilyumptious visitor in town.

STAY TUNED!

It's only a matter of time people … it's only a matter of time.

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery ...

I'm a great fan of the late Margaret Olley (1923-2011).

She is one of my all time favourite artists … I love her work … and would dearly love to own one.  But unfortunately I just don't have a spare 100 grand lying around.

Look at them.

What a joy.

I've mentioned on this blog before how when Master 13 was given a school assignment to recreate the work of a famous artist I encouraged him to copy a Margaret Olley.  Which he did … quite spectacularly I thought.  I admit to giving him a bit of advice here and there … and chanting my own painting mantra "paint what you see … paint what you see" … but the end result was his own.

What I find most frustrating about this whole endeavour is that he has barely picked up a paintbrush since … it "doesn't interest" him.

Look at this handy collage I have created to enable an easy comparison.

Since then his little masterpiece has been proudly displayed in the family room.

So it got me thinking … which is a highly dangerous turn of events … it got me thinking that perhaps I would enter into the spirit of a little counterfeiting … copying … reproducing … falsifying … forging … of my own.  Just until I manage to find all that loose change in the back of the sofa cushions and can afford one of my very own.

And just in case anyone thinks I'm pulling a swifty and entering into a world of crime … I very clearly labelled the back like this …

So here it is … Master 16 gave me a ten out of ten … which is unprecedented I can tell you.

And another handy comparison collage … 

I'm actually pretty happy with it … for once … but it is definitely best viewed from a distance.

Now what's next … the Mona Lisa????